Cosmetic dentistry has been credited as something that helped change a domestic violence victim's life for the better.
Carol Salazar, a programme director at the NewBridge Family Shelter in Texas, told the San Angelo Standard Times that she often encounters women who have had some of their teeth damaged by abusive partners.
She explained that this lowers their self-esteem even when they escape the violence, because they no longer feel able to smile.
However, Ms Salazar said the organisation recently helped one victim to receive cosmetic dentistry, which allowed her to smile without embarrassment.
"She went from not smiling at all to smiling all the time. She's a different person. It changed her life," the worker commented.
According to Women's Aid, one in four women in Britain will be a victim of domestic violence at some point in their life.
Dental implants could help victims to regain their confidence when teeth are lost or damaged.
